Regenerator structure



Oct. 9, 1956 s. A. FORTER REGENERATOR STRUCTURE 2 She'etsSheet '1 Filed Jan. 18, 1954 IN VEN TOR. A .Fort er amuel Oct. 9, 1956 s. A. PORTER 2,766,031

REGENERATOR STRUCTURE Filed Jan 18, 1954 2 heet 2 L k L J' mm m IIIIIIIII II IIII IIIIIIIIII 1% INVENTOR. 5 amuel A -Forter BY xfzz /mdpm 2,766,031 REGENERATon STRUCTURE Samuel A. Forter, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor t For-ter- Teichmann Company, Pittsburgh, Pan, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,592

9 Claims. c1. 263-45) of the periods of furnace for cleaning out the regenerator.

One of the greatest difficulties encountered in the operation of regenerators is the piling up tor tends to channel the dust-laden gases in the path of least resistance. Such channeling in turn reduces the efficiency of the regenerator as parts of the checkerwork do not participate to the optimum extent in the heat transfer cycle.

I provide regenerator structure overcoming the disadvantages above pointed out. In my regenerator structure the dust-laden gases are caused to pass relatively uniformly through all portions of the checkerwork, greatly increasing the efiiciency and economy of the refluid from the respective exit ends of the regenerator The bafile means preferably comprise generally parallel bafiie walls forming passages eX- 2,766,031 l at ente d Oct. 9, 1956 is generally transverse thereof. The terms inlet, outlet,

the flow on the regenerator to extract heat from the previously heated checkerwork.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I, have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure l is a view partly in plan and partly-in horizon tal cross section of regenerator structure; and

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal cross section on Figure l.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown one end of a furnace chamber 2 of any of a variety of types, the

being a glass melting tank. Heat issupplied to the furof the gas to be burned in the furnace chamber in the heat supplying portion of the cycle at that side of the center line.

Each side of the regenerator structure comprises two separate regenerator chambers separated by a transverse At one side of the regenerator structure two separate regenerator chambers 3 and 4 are separated by-a the line II'II of transverse wall alignment longitudinally of the structure and beneath an 5. The chambers 3 and 4 are arranged in inlet 6 which is connected through a passage 7 with the furnace chamber. At the other side of the regenerator structure two separate regenerator chambers 3 and 4' are separated by a transverse wall 5'. The chambers 3' and 4' are arranged in alignment longitudinally of the structure and beneath an inlet 6 which is connected through a passage 7 with the furnace chamber. The gas to be burned in the furnace chamber is introduced through burner ports 8 as is conventional. In one part of the cycle the air enters through the previously preheated checkerwork in the chambers 3 and 4, passing upwardly through those chambers 3 and 4 from bottom to top of the chambers into the inlet 6 and thence through the passage 7 into the furnace chamber 2 Where it supports combustion of gas introduced through the burner ports 8. The products of combustion pass out through the passage 7' into the inlet 6' and thence downwardly through the chambers 3 and 4' Connected with the lower end of the chamber 4 is a duct 9. The duct 9 communicates with the chamber 4 through a passage 10 transverse of the structure. The arch 19 (Figure 2) forms the roof of the passage 10. Connected with the lower end of the chamber 3 is a duct 11. The duct 11 communicates with the chamber 3 through a passage 12 longitudinal of the structure. The ducts 9 and 11 are separate, both leading to the outlet 13. A fluid control device such as a damper 14 is provided in the duct 11 and a similar device is provided in the duct 9. The checkerwork in the chamber 3 comprises generally parallel baflle walls 16 which are generally upright extending from top to bottom of the chamber 3 and also extend generally transversely of the chamber and generally perpendicular to the passage 12. The checkerwork in the chamber 4 comprises generally parallel baffle walls 17 which are generally upright extending from top to bottom of the chamber 4 and also extend generally longitudinally of the chamber and generally perpendicular to the passage 10.

The numerals 9 to 17, inclusive, have been applied to the parts at one side of the center line C of the structure, to wit, the lower side viewing Figure 1. Corresponding reference numerals, each with a prime affixed, are applied to the corresponding parts at the opposite side of the center line, to wit, the upper side viewing Figure 1. Each of the outlets 13 and 13' communicates with a stack and provision is made by means which may be conventional and hence not illustrated in detail for reversing the direction of flow of the gases. The dampers 14, 14', 15 and 15' may be regulated to control the proportion of inflowing air and outfiowing products of combustion through the respective ducts 11, 11', 9 and 9 so that channeling may be inhibited and the respec tive chambers efiiciently utilized. Moreover, the generally parallel baifle walls 16, 16, 17 and 17 are in each of the chambers arranged perpendicular to the passage connecting the chamber with the corresponding duct leading to the outlet which further inhibits channeling of outflowing products of combustion and results in depositing of a relatively even layer of dust at the bottoms of the chambers as indicated at 18 in Figure 2. This inhibits clogging and enables substantial increase of operating periods between shutdowns for cleaning out the regenerator.

A cycle of operation of the structure will now be described. Incoming air passes from left to right viewing Figure 1 past the dampers 14' and 15', through the respective ducts 1'1 and 9' and through the respective passages 12 and 10' into the respective chambers 3' and 4' at the bottoms thereof. The air passes upwardly through the chambers 3' and 4 in the generally vertical passages between the baffle walls 16' in the chamber 3 and the generally vertical passages between the battle walls 17 in the chamber 4' and thence to the inlet 6' and thence to the outlet.

. defining an outlet and separate ducts (the reference numeral 6' does not appear in the drawings because the inlet 6' is not shown, but it is identical and parallel to the inlet 6 shown in Figure 2). In its passage through the chambers 3' and 4 the air absorbs heat from the checkerwork in those chambers. The preheated air passes to the right through the passage 7 into the furnace chamber 2 where it supports combustion of gas introduced into the furnace chamber through burner ports 8. The heat of combustion in the furnace chamber is largely absorbed by the work to be heated such as the glass melt in the tank and the products of combustion pass to the left viewing the drawings through the passage 7 into the inlet 6 and thence downwardly through the chambers 3 and 4 and out through the respective passages 12 and 10 and the respective ducts 11 and 9 and past the respective dampers 14 and 15 to the outlet 13. The fact that in each of the chambers 3 and 4 the baflle walls are generally perpendicular to the passage leading to the outlet duct reduces channeling and causes flow of the products of combustion relatively evenly throughout the chamber. The dampers 14 and 15 may be adjusted so that substantially equal or desired volumes of gas will pass through the respective chambers 3 and 4. Thus I obtain high thermal efficiency and due to the fact that the dust collects relatively evenly at the bottom of the regenerator my structure can operate for longer periods than heretofore between shutdowns for cleaning out the regenerator. When the direction of fiow is reversed exactly the same advantages are obtained since the structure is symmetrical on both sides of the center line C. While I have'shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Regenerator structure comprising means defining an inlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers receiving fluid in parallel from the inlet, means defining an outlet, separate ducts delivering fluid from the respective regenerator chambers to the outlet, a passage from each regenerator chamber to the corresponding duct, generally parallel substantially continuous baflle walls in each'regenerator chamber disposed generally normal to the direction of said passage therefrom and fluid control means controlling the proportion of the fluid entering at the inlet which passes through each of the regenerator chambers.

2. Regenerator structure comprising means defining an inlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers, each having an entrance end and an exit end, disposed along the inlet and each connected with the inlet to receive fluid therefrom at the entrance end of the chamber, each chamber having therein substantially continuous baffle means forming passages extending from the entrance end of the chamber to the exit end of the chamber, means delivering fluid from the respective exit ends of the regenerator chambers to the outlet.

3. Regeuerator structure comprising means defining an inlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers, each having an entrance end and an exit end, disposed along the inlet and each connected with the inlet to receive fluid therefrom at the entrance end of the chamber, each chamber having therein generally parallel substantially continuous baifle walls forming passages extending from the entrance end of the chamber to the exit end of the chamber, the baffle walls in one chamber being generally perpendicular to the baffle walls in an adjacent chamber, means defining an outlet and separate ducts delivering fluid from the respective exit ends of the regenerator chambers to the outlet.

4. Regenerator structure comprising means defining an inlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers, each having an entrance end and an exit end, disposed along the inlet and each connected with the inlet to receive of each regenerator chamber t fluid therefrom at the entrance end of the chamber, each and fluid control means in the last me chamber having therein generally parallel substantially controlling the proportion of the fluid continuous bafiie walls forming passages extending from inlet which passes through each of the re the entrance end of the chamber to the exit end of the 5 ers. chamber, the baflle walls in one chamber being generally 8. Regenerator structure comprising means defining an perpendicular to the baflie walls in an ad acent chaminlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers each ber, means defin ng an outlet, separate ducts delivering having an upper entrance end and a lower exit en fluid from the respective exit ends of the regenerator posed along and beneath the inlet and each con chambers to the outlet and a passage from the exit end with the inlet to receive fluid therefro of each regenerator chamber to the corresponding duct, trance end of the chambei each chamber havin each of the last mentioned passages extending generally in generally parallel generally upright substantia normal to the baflle walls in the corresponding chamber. tinuous baflle walls forming passages extending f Regenerator structure comprising means defining an upper entrance end of the chamber to the lower e inlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers, each of the chamber, the baflle walls in one aving an upper entrance end and a lower exit end, disgenerally perpendicular to the baflle walls posed alon and beneath the inlet and each connected chamber, means defining an outlet sepa with the inlet to receive fluid therefrom at the upper enlivering fluid from t e respective lower exit ends of the trance end of the chamber, each chamber having therein regenerator chambers to the outlet and a passage from generally upright substantially continuous baflle walls the lower exit end of each regenerator chamber to the forming passages extending from the upper entrance end corresponding duct, each of the last mentioned passages of the chamber to the lower exit end of the chamber, extending generally normal to the baflle walls in the means defining an outlet and separate ducts delivering corresponding chamber. fluid from the respective lower exit ends of the regen- 9. Regenerator structure comprising means defining an erator chambers to the outlet. inlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers, each 6. Regenerator structure comprising means defining an having an upper entrance end and a lower exit end, inlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers each disposed along and beneath the inlet and each connected having an upper entrance end and a lower exit end, diswith the inlet to receive fluid therefrom at the upper posed along and beneath the inlet and each connected entrance end of the chamber each chamber having there with the inlet to receive fluid therefrom at the upper in generally parallel generally upright substantially conentrance end of the chamber, each chamber having theretinuous baflie walls forming passages extending from the in generally upright substantially continuous batfle walls upper entrance end of the chamber to the lower exit end forming passages extending from the upper entrance end of the chamber, the baflie walls in one chamber being genof the chamber to the lower exit end of the chamber, erally perpendicular to the baflle walls in an ad acent means defining an outlet, separate ducts delivering fluid chamber, means defining an outlet, separate ducts defrom the respective lower exit ends of the regenerator livering fluid from the respective lower exit ends of the chambers to the outlet and a passage from the lower regenerator chambers to the outlet a passage from the exit end of each regenerator chamber to the correspondlower exit end of each regenerator chamber to the coring duct, one of the last mentioned passages being genresponding duct, each of the last mentioned passages exerally parallel to the inlet and another of such passages tending generally normal to the baflie Walls in the coreing generally transverse thereof. responding chamber, and a fluid control device in each Regenerator structure comprising means defining an of the last mentioned passages, whereby the proportion inlet, a plurality of separate regenerator chambers, each of the fluid entering at the inlet which passes through each aving an upper entrance end and a lower exit end disof the regenerator chambers may be controlled. posed along and beneath the inlet and each connected 5 with the inlet to receive fluid therefrom at the upper en- References Cited in the file of this P trance end of the chamber, each chamber having there in generally upright substantially continuous bafile walls UNITED STATES PATENTS forming passages extending from the upper entrance end 1,727,898 Naismith et al. Sept. 10, 1929 of the chamber to the lower exit end of the chamber, 1,841,261 Sommer Jan. 12, 1932 means defining an outlet, separate ducts delivering fluid 2,328,917 Longenecker Sept. 7, 1943 from the respective lower exit ends of the regenerator 2,397,810 Roof Apr. 2, 1946 chambers to the outlet, a passage from the lower exit end 2,429,880 Hays Oct. 28, 1947 

